Search Results (4)

Background: Acne is a common inflammatory dermatosis with well-documented epidemiology in urban populations; however, data from rural sub-Saharan African settings remain limited. Objective: To characterize the demographic profile, clinical subtypes, severity spectrum, complications, and comorbidities of acne among patients attending a rural tertiary dermatology centre in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods: A quantitative, retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using census sampling of dermatologist-confirmed acne cases diagnosed between 2022 and 2025. Demographic and clinical variables were extracted from medical records and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (p < 0.05). Results: A total of 166 patients were included, all of African ethnicity. Females predominated (89.2%), yielding a female-to-male ratio of 8.2:1. Adult-onset acne was most common (85.5%), with a median onset age of 26 years. Acne vulgaris represented the predominant subtype (83.1%). Papules and comedones were the most frequent lesions, and facial involvement was nearly universal (94.8%). Moderate disease (Grade 2) was most prevalent. Post-acne complications were highly frequent (92.8%), with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation being the most frequent of these (87.0%). Comorbidities were observed in 52.4% of patients, most commonly eczema and pigmentary disorders. Conclusions: Acne in this rural cohort demonstrated a predominance of adult-onset disease, marked female susceptibility, moderate severity, and a high burden of pigmentary sequelae. These findings highlight the need for context-specific diagnostic and management strategies in underserved rural populations. Full article

Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial inflammatory skin disorder that significantly impairs quality of life and may signal underlying systemic dysfunction, particularly in adult women with treatment-resistant or atypical presentations. This case series presents three clinically and etiologically distinct examples of persistent acne in female patients, each associated with different contributing factors: long-term topical corticosteroid misuse, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and metabolic syndrome with autoimmune thyroiditis. All cases underwent comprehensive dermatologic evaluation, endocrine/metabolic assessments, and personalized therapeutic interventions, ranging from corticosteroid withdrawal and barrier repair to hormonal modulation and insulin-sensitizing therapy. Clinical progression was monitored for up to six months, revealing favorable responses in all cases, with substantial lesion clearance and improved skin quality. These real-world cases highlight the importance of an integrative, interdisciplinary diagnostic approach in refractory acne and support the need for individualized, long-term management strategies tailored to underlying systemic contributors. Full article

The term “acne-like eruptions” encompasses a variety of skin conditions resembling acne vulgaris. While both acne-like dermatoses and true acne are frequently observed in clinical settings, differentiating between the two might be challenging. Similar to acne, the lesions of acne-like eruptions may exhibit papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. However, contrary to acne, comedones are uncommon but may still be observed in certain types of acne-like eruptions. Moreover, acne-like eruptions can be differentiated from acne based on their sudden onset, the propensity to occur across all age groups, the monomorphic appearance of lesions, and the distributions extending outside the seborrheic regions. The development of acne-like eruptions cannot be attributed to a single underlying mechanism; nevertheless, various factors such as patient age, infections, occupation, habits, cosmetics, and medications may be involved. The observed lesions may not respond to standard acne therapy, necessitating that treatment strategies are tailored in accordance with the identified causative agents. The following review aims to outline distinct entities of acne-like eruptions and present features that set them apart from true acne. Acne-like eruptions in the adult population, infectious diseases resembling acne, and acne-like eruptions resulting from exposure to chemical and physical agents are addressed in this paper. An understanding of the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and epidemiology of this group of dermatoses is pivotal for a precise diagnosis and provision of appropriate care. Full article

Autoinflammatory disorders are commonly characterized by seemingly unprovoked systemic inflammation mainly driven by cells and cytokines of the innate immune system. In many disorders on this spectrum, joint and bone involvement may be observed and imaging of these manifestations can provide essential diagnostic information. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the imaging characteristics for major diseases and disease groups on the autoinflammatory spectrum, including familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), Behçet disease (BD), crystal deposition diseases (including gout), adult-onset Still’s disease (AoSD), and syndromatic synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO)/chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO). Herein, we discuss common and distinguishing imaging characteristics, phenotypical overlaps with related diseases, and promising fields of future research. Full article